Nipple reconstruction
Comments
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"have them snipped off".....YIKES!
I don't mean to be discouraging to you right before your surgery! Wishing for the very best for you! It helps that you didn't have radiation....and hopefully your skin over implants isn't too thin.Hope it's encouraging to know that there is a back up plan, if needed. The NI nips can be used over failed nip recon, even over a natural nipple....so don't go snipping anything off!!
Truly wishing you fantastic results!!0 -
Thanks lala1,
I have followed your lead on the nipple care since the surgery. I too have dissolving sutures that don't seem to be dissolving very well. I also plan to wear the pads until I don't feel like it anymore
It has been 3 1/2 weeks and not a lot of shrinkage yet, though the right one is smaller than the left one. I am very happy that I got them. My final step will be the tattoos.I now have another question. It is about running. I can't find much on this. When did people start back running? Any special care need to be taken? Is there a risk of chaffing etc. Am I worrying about nothing!
Thanks
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Akler53---I can't run due to shin splints but I do power walking most every day. My PS said no gym at all for 2 weeks then I could do whatever I wanted after that. I will say that I still took it easy for another 2 weeks. When I walked really fast my boobs would bounce (of course!) and my new nip would feel a bit sore. Once I passed the month mark, I didn't have that problem any more. My PS basically said most of my shrinkage would happen in the first month and then a little more shrinkage in the second month. His instructions were bandage for one week, no gym for 2 weeks and soft bra for 4 weeks. I am using the makeup pads with the hole cut out for 2 months. I went back to the gym after 10 days but took it easy for first month and the soft bra is permanent for me (for now) because underwires cause pain in the area I had the drains. So far all this has worked for me....my new nip looks really good. If it does shrink a bit more, I'm okay with that and if it doesn't, I'm ok with that too!!
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I had my nipple reconstruction via nipple origami on 12/18/13. I am extremely disappointed. I have almost nothing on the right and basically a half smushed nipple on the left. My PS is a perfectionist. He never really mentioned much about what to look for in terms of a problem. I wish I had known--not that it would change the outcome or anything. My nipples basically looked like black raisins when I took the bandages off--a little pink on the left, no pink on the right. I saw my onc before my PS. She said the tissue never got blood flow and basically died. Anyone know how common it is? I did not have radiation, and turned 40 last week. I met a young woman (29) who had the surgery right before me with my PS. She emailed me that hers failed on one side also. It just strikes me as odd that it happened to both of us. I also got an infection in the wounds so I was started on antibiotics. This is a tough knock but not the end of the world. They said it should look decent after tattoos but the tattoing now has to be delayed to let this all heal. They could not even take out all the stitches. Hugs to all of you and wishes for a joy filled, healthy 2014!
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Sorry to hear that. hutchins3. It would be so much easier and less of disappointments if the physicians would let us know before hand that you may have to have more than one surgery or two or that things don't always turn out. Right when you think the end to this disease/nightmare is here you get thrown into another twist. Been there/Am there. I always tell myself it will be okay in time... its just the waiting game..... My advice is to ALWAYS get at least two opinions. It helps quite a bit....
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Lala1 I just read your post on 'spitting' sutures and I think now that I may have had a bit of that recently! I was feeling a bit of thickness in the suture line a few months after my exchange surgery on the right side. I massaged the area and a short time later had a very tender and reddened area. used polysporin on it for days. Eventually pain went away but not the redness. Showed PS the day I got my nips he was not concerned..... Anyway today in the shower I checked it and a tiny sand like granule came out. I will be checking to see if the redness goes away now. I really always felt it was an un-dissolved bit of suture. Every day is an adventure....
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Hi Hutchins3,
I am so sorry your nipple reconstruction did not go well. I was quite worried myself about this, as I lost a fair bit of both of my post MX flaps to tissue necrosis. So I was concerned that my revascularization might not be good enough for nipples. You are right of course, it is not the end of the world but it is a disappointment.. I was willing to give it one try. If it didn't / doesn't work in the end, my plan is for 3D tattoos. Best wishes for what ever you decide to do next
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Thanks lala1,
for your advise regarding exercise. I will take it easy. Patience was not a virtue of mine BC.... I am learning. You mentioned posted pictures in one of your posts. I would really appreciate it if I could view them. How do I do that?
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I posted pics of my shrunken nipple on the pic forum. Let me know what you think.
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Sharon, It does look like it has shrunk a bit, but you still look really good.
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Akler53---You need to PM Lilah and get access to the picture forum. She can walk you through the process. My pictures from UMX to nip recon are under "TE to 600 Mentor+lift/augment native". I actually should post some updated ones. My PS did a great job! It hasn't shrunk too much and is perfectly aligned with the native nip! (I took a level to them so I should know!)
It does sound like you had a spitting suture. I had that happen half a dozen times but never actually had anything "spit". The at surgery, he found that the knot from the purse string suture, which is the one that goes all the way around the areola, hadn't dissolved and was causing the infection. Now that that's out, I feel great!
And do go easy on the exercise. Walking is the best for now, just watch the boob bounce if you power walk!!
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Thanks lala1, I PM'd Lilah about access. to the Picture forum.
Your comment about the level made me laugh out loud
I will take it easy. Things are going well at the moment and I need reminding at times that I have had set backs during this `adventure` due to my impatience`.....
Cheers
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I'm glad my comment on using a level (I MAY have a bit OCD in me!) made you laugh out loud....it just makes my PS roll his eyes (although he swears he doesn't do that!) which he does after most of my comments/questions/observations!!
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I had my nipple reconstruction on new years eve along with fat transfer......did not look for a few day....after showering, I would take care of one foob, but med on and donut cover, then take care of other.....last night after shower, I LOOKED and wanted to cry.....one nip is about an inch LOWER than the other side.......the LOW side is also the side I had fat transfer.....and. the dents are still there too......I am DEPRESSED
Di
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Di...I am so sorry that you are not happy with the results. When do you next go to the doctor? How totally discouraging! I haven't scheduled my nipple reconstruction yet, but just wondering how he will make it match my right breast. Guess I better prepare myself for some disappointment. I am already not happy with my reconstruction. I have two large ripples at the top. I have to call for a revision. After going through all this and the dents are still there? I don't even know what to say.
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Dii.....your nipples will change slowly for the next 4-6 months.... One of my nipples was doing the downward dog and looked lower for such a long time while the other was perfect. I am happy to say that after the shrinkage the bad one is nose up and they look identical. I'm very happy. They will shrink a lot ...almost to just buttons in most cases. What you see now is in no way what your final outcome will be.
But do address your concerns to your plastic surgeon. Hopefully, some other girls will come along with more information.
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Di so sorry you are are disappointed right now. Give it a little time and let them settle. If you are not happy then you can consider your options such as a nip revision or you might not care anymore.
I am a uni and I have had 2 nip revisions on the MX side for different reasons. The last one was just last month and it looks pretty good. In 2011 I had an origami type nip and areola grafted from my inner thigh. It looked fine except that I lost weight and my real breast got smaller and I became uneven. In 2012 my PS replaced the 550 cc implant with a 450 cc one. During that time my PS also moved the nip a little so that it would be in the right place.
The nip position was ok however the areola was now bigger than my other breast. However, I honestly did not care because I was too busy with life until Nov 2013, when I had my yearly check up. The mammogram showed some tissue on my real breast that my oncologist did not like so she suggested my PS remove it (ended up being scar tissue mixed with fat).
My PS who is a perfectionist convinced me to have the MX nip redone because it had flattened and I was going to have surgery anyway. I am very pleased with the new nip since he reduced the areola as well. Overall it is a good match, which is always a challenge for us unis.
The recovery after surgery was pretty easy I was back in the gym doing weights (lower than normal) after couple weeks.
Please do not be sad, just know that you have options.
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Di, I am sorry you had a disappointment. I am one month post nip construction and mine looked quite lopsided at first. I also worried that they would fall off with each dressing change initially. Your comment about them washing down the drain made me chuckle
They seem to be balancing out as they shrink. My PS let me know that it would take several months to see what they were meant to look like.My left nip too is doing downward dog, so I am very happy to hear that this is temporary. That one was also very waxy in colour for weeks. I was worried about circulation but PS said it was fine. Thankfully earlier this past week I saw that it finally pinked up and matches the right. The whole experience is quite a rollercoaster for sure. I hope your follow up appointment with your PS is soon and that you are reassured that things are as they should be at this stage.
I have a great PS but I am very grateful for the advice and information this forum has provided me as well.
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Oh, Di! I am so sorry that you did not get the result you were hoping for. My heart sank when I read your post. We both have gone through this process in lock step with each other and I was so hoping we could pronounce everything "FINISHED" surgically after this. Hopefully as you heal the one side will become more even with the good side. If not, I have heard that the 3D tattooing can make illusions of evenness. Hang in there, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}
Hutchins3, the first thing my PS said when he changed my dressings Tuesday was, "It's alive!" The nurse later explained that that was usually their first concern after the surgery and the second was the flattening issue. I don't know how common it is, but it did seem to be of some concern to him whether or not it had kept its blood flow.
As for my surgery, I have not been able to see the nips themselves. My PS sews the plunger end of a syringe to the breast and covers in gauze and tegaderm. I go Thursday for the great unveiling. Trying so hard not to get my hopes up too high but really hoping that this is it! I made my appointment for Vinnie today and can you believe he is scheduling into October in NOLA??? At least I get to avoid the oppressive heat and humidity New Orleans is famous for : /
My PS is so nonchalant about post op care, but I'm a nervous wreck worrying about them flattening. I've been telling myself that I will live with whatever happens, but not too terribly strong in my conviction of that. I guess we'll see.
I hope everyone has a happy and healthy new year!
Pam
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peanutsgal - I attended a conference in New Orleans this past October (late October) and it was still quite miserably hot and humid. Right now though, I'd take that over the polar vortex temps we're experiencing in a freakin heartbeat!
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peanutsgal, good luck with your unveiling tomorrow!
At the end of the month it will be a year since I had my bilateral nipple reconstruction and I just wanted to share that I am very happy that I decided to do it. My areola's were skin grafted & nipples made with an origami flap. They have shrunk & are slightly noticeable without a bra in a tee shirt. I feel more normal when I see myself in the shower or in a mirror. I am happy with my decision. Good luck & I hope this helps those of you that are undecided.
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I saw my PS today and said I am not happy and shed some tears and after measuring me he said it (lefty) was "about 1 cm lower"....I said it looked more like an inch or more to me....he said the nipples are doing well
I have 6 more days to wear my foam donuts....he gave me plenty of foam and a demo how to make then and cut the center hole (he made 2) at my pre-op visit....which was really one of my post eye lift visits.....but after 9 vists in 3 weeks he gave me the choice. ......I will see him in 3 weeks again.
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Pam,I will be with you tomorrow in spirit, I hope all is perfect with your new nips.....you will go ahead
of me to NOLA and Vinnie....my "sister" in this and so much more....
It is looking like one more surgery for me before I make my date with Vinnie.
Love you,
Di
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Nipple report - all is good. My nipple shrunk the normal amount & is only very slightly smaller that the natural one. All my friends & daughters had already told me it looked good. I get a tattoo touch-up in a couple of weeks to enhance the 3D effect. I am happy with my DIEP results & never thought at the age of 71 I would have perky D's & a flat tummy! I will probably be getting on with life & off the boards on a regular basis, but feel free to pm me with any questions. Prayers & good luck to those of you beginning this journey & those of you right behind me. God bless!
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Well, the great unveiling was not all that great! The PS removed my "cones of shame", I raised up, took a peek and he bandaged them back up for another week. I can tell a little bit about them with the syringes removed. They look even and are pointing in the right direction as far as I can tell. They looked quite large and I'm glad they are now that I realize that they will probably shrink at least 50%. I will keep you posted on the shrinkage
Di, I sent you a PM.
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hi Ladies~ im new here and admit I haven't read but a few of the latest feeds. Did you ladies have the "origami" flap nipple recon? My PS just brushed on the topic and said we would talk more about it in May or June. My DMX is scheduled for Feb 18 with imed expanders. I feel pretty good about that part but am kinda worried about the final outcome.
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Its been about 30 days since I got my fake nips. Weird but I never did get numb so hope those tattoos don't hurt.About the scars from where these were made...has anyone had good luck/results with the silicone sheets? I have only used the scar away liquid which I would say a C plus on results. Significant fading but still have the purple line, was hoping for more.
Glad my PS is not so weird after all. Not happy with the derm. Went to him for the rosacea and a brown square that got on my cheek. Yuck...then he removed a precancer in the center of it. It left a hard to cover red spot. Looks like a dried cranberry is stuck to my face...been using scar away on it with some little results...it seems a little flatter. The metro gel and finacea given to me does nothing. No real treatment for those permanent bumps like acne for the rosacea folks. They cant cure cancer or the common cold. Honestly what do they do in those research labs!!!???
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Layla......I guess I'm weird too, but I have feeling in my foobs and my nips (it IS my skin....with alloderm inside) tomorrow is my last day to wear foam donuts....I will start using scar away strips after tomorrow....my PS took a lump between my foobs during nip/fat grafting surgery and I have been using a scar away strip on that 5" incision....after steri strips came off.....I also used scar away strips on my 5 fat grafting sites.
The thing that cured my rosacea....was 2 IPL treatments also the brown spots went away! (from too much sun....even though I was olive skin in my younger years.....(me, I am pale face now)
I had really really bad cherry angiomas on my tummy....below foobs and above pubic area.....They looked like red blood blisters, but so many clear skin was not visable.....I decided to give IPL another try. After ONE treatment they were gone.
Did you have a biopsy....hope it was not cancer for you.
Di
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told my 95 year old mom that I had surgery 13 days ago for fat grafting and nipples and she said that is rediculous! Why did you get nipples, no one will see it except your husband!.....uhhhh....the HELL WITH ME AND MY FEELINGS! really hurt
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I had nipple reconstruction 12/9/13 & I have to say I'm finally happy with the results. They look nice actually.. The stitches have dissolved & the slight peeling stopped. I did panic at first but I now love them. Can't wait for the aerola tattoo in a few months!!
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